Addison Russell sent to A’s minor-league camp; Cespedes’ woes

A quick blog before racing off to the A’s game at Goodyear, but there were some roster trims this morning and among them was prized minor-league shortstop Addison Russell, who has missed a week with a hamstring strain.

Manager Bob Melvin said that Russell would have stayed with the club all the way through the Bay Bridge series had it not been for the hamstring injury, but the team didn’t want to push it any – Russell is the crown jewel of the organization – and the A’s saw enough of Russell this spring to know exactly what they have in him. He did everything asked of him, and he impressed the coaching staff.

There’s little doubt that if there is a need at some point during the season, the A’s wouldn’t hesitate to call up Russell, and it’s almost a lock that he will be up in September. With Jed Lowrie a free agent after this season, Russell is the projected starting shortstop for 2015. He is back hitting and running again already, by the way – Russell estimates he’s at about 75 percent.

Also among today’s reassignments to minor-league camp: infielder Darwin Perez, whose arrival was slowed nearly three weeks because of visa issues in Venezuela – he also is dealing with a shoulder injury and saw little playing time. Also heading to Papago Park: pitchers Deryk Hooker, Matt Buschmann and Philip Humber, he of the perfect game.

Melvin said that Humber has the stuff to pitch in the big leagues, he just needs to get the ball down more consistently and finish batters off better with two strikes. He needs to have confidence he can dominate because his stuff is good enough for him to do so, Melvin said. Humber has a 13.50 ERA this spring.

***

A’s outfielder Yoenis Cespedes had said before the spring that he was cutting his swing down in order to make more contact, but we’ve seen little of either this spring. He’s batting .125, 4 for 32 with no homers.

Melvin said that it’s tough to take stuff into games to work on, and that when Cespedes doesn’t have immediate results, “He gets angry and tries to hit it a mile.”

Melvin would like to see Cespedes continue to try to make the adjustments and be patient with it. “It’s hard to stick with it, but I think it will be beneficial for him,” Melvin said.

***

Likely Opening Day starter Sonny Gray is on the mound for the A’s against the Reds today; Melvin said he’ll wait until Jarrod Parker – who had been expected to start Opening Day – sees Dr. James Andrews in Florida tomorrow before making any announcement about who will face the Indians on March 31. So Parker (forearm tightness) ostensibly is still a possibility should Andrews clear him to resume throwing.